Let’s be honest – no fast food brand in the UAE has inspired the kind of devotion that Al Baik does.
People drove from Dubai to Jeddah for it. Then they drove from Abu Dhabi to Dubai for it. And when the first UAE branch opened at Dubai Mall in June 2021, the queues were genuinely something to witness. A cult following built over 50 years in Saudi Arabia had been waiting a long time to not have to board a plane, and it showed.
Since then Al Baik has expanded to over 20 UAE locations – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and counting – and if you’re still wondering what the fuss is about, this is your guide.
The Al Baik Story: From Jeddah to Dubai Mall
Al Baik was founded in 1974 by Palestinian-Saudi entrepreneur Shakour Abu Ghazalah in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. What started as a single fried chicken restaurant on Old Airport Road became the largest restaurant chain in Saudi Arabia – with over 100 branches across the Kingdom – before it ever left the country.
That exclusivity was part of the mystique. For decades, Al Baik was the thing Saudis would bring back for family and friends, the thing expats returning from business trips would pick up at the airport, and the thing Gulf residents planned road trips around. The garlic sauce became a regional obsession before most of the region had ever tasted it in its home city.
Then came Expo 2020 in Dubai, where Al Baik made its first international appearance to an overwhelming reception. The brand’s first permanent UAE branch opened at Dubai Mall in June 2021. The queues stretched for hours. The hype was entirely justified.
Why Is Al Baik So Popular?
This is the question everyone who hasn’t tried it asks, and it comes down to three specific things:
The chicken. Broasted rather than deep fried – cooked in a pressure fryer that locks in moisture while creating a genuinely crispy exterior. Marinated in an 18-spice blend that the brand has kept confidential since 1974. The result is chicken that stays juicy in a way that most fried chicken doesn’t.
The garlic sauce. This is the thing people become unreasonably attached to. Creamy, rich, garlicky without being overwhelming – it’s been described by regulars as the real reason for the queue. You can’t replicate it at home. The brand knows this.
The price. A full meal – chicken pieces, fries, drink – comes in well under AED 30 in most configurations. In a city where a burger elsewhere can cost four times that, Al Baik’s pricing is part of its identity. Good food at genuinely accessible prices, in a proper restaurant environment.
The Al Baik UAE Menu
The menu stays consistent across all UAE branches with minor seasonal variations.
| Item | Price (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Chicken Meal (4 pieces, fries, drink) | AED 20-25 |
| Shrimp Meal (fries, drink) | AED 24-30 |
| Fish Meal (fries, drink) | AED 16-22 |
| Chicken Burger (fries, drink) | AED 18-22 |
| Jumbo Shrimp Meal | AED 30+ |
| Chicken Nuggets | AED 10-15 |
| Garlic Sauce (extra) | AED 2-3 |
| Fries | AED 5-8 |
Order this: The 4-piece chicken meal with extra garlic sauce. That’s the Al Baik experience in its purest form. Add the shrimp if you’re sharing – the seafood menu gets less attention than it deserves.
💡 WOW-Emirates Expert Tip: Order extra garlic sauce. This is not negotiable. Every regular in the UAE has made the mistake of getting standard allocation and regretted it. Two extra portions per person is not excessive. Budget for it.
Al Baik Dubai Locations
Al Baik has grown rapidly across Dubai since 2021. Key locations:
| Branch | Location | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Mall | Food Court, Level 2 | Daily 10am-12am |
| Mall of the Emirates | First Floor | Daily 10am-12am |
| Satwa (2nd December Street) | Street level | Daily hours vary |
| Al Nahda | Union Coop Hypermarket, Amman Street | Daily 9am-2am |
| Al Rashidiya Drive-Thru | Eppco Petrol Station, Al Rashidiya | Daily 10am-2am |
| Dubai Festival City Mall | Mall food court | Daily hours vary |
Note: Al Baik continues to open new locations. Check @albaikinuae on Instagram or the Al Baik UAE app for the most current branch list.
Al Baik Across the UAE
The brand has now reached every emirate:
- Abu Dhabi: Al Wahda Mall, Dalma Mall and others (4+ branches)
- Sharjah: Sharjah City Centre and additional locations
- Ajman: City Centre Ajman
- Ras Al Khaimah: Multiple locations
- Umm Al Quwain: Now open
The expansion pace has been significant – from 13 UAE branches in early 2024 to over 20 by mid-2025. If your nearest emirate doesn’t have one yet, the wait is likely shorter than you’d think.
What People Get Wrong About Al Baik
Showing up at peak time. Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates branches get long queues on weekends and at lunch and dinner peak hours. If you’re visiting for the first time, a weekday mid-morning visit gives you the full experience without the wait.
Not ordering seafood. The shrimp meal is genuinely excellent and most first-timers focus entirely on the chicken. The seafood gets less attention but earns more of it.
Ordering delivery and expecting the same thing. Al Baik travels reasonably well for fried chicken but the experience of eating it fresh from the fryer is meaningfully better. If you’re within 15 minutes of a branch, go in person.
Al Baik vs. The Competition
Dubai has no shortage of fried chicken and fast food options but Al Baik occupies a specific and slightly unusual position – it’s fast food that people queue for in the same way they queue for a good restaurant. The price point is genuine fast food. The quality and the following are something else.
For context: the same people who spend their Fridays at Dubai’s best brunches often end their weekends with Al Baik. That’s not a contradiction. It’s just a very good piece of fried chicken.
Al Baik Dubai: The Details
| First UAE branch opened | June 2021, Dubai Mall |
| UAE locations | 20+ across all seven emirates |
| Delivery | Available via Talabat and Noon Food |
| App | Al Baik app available for iOS and Android |
| @albaikinuae | |
| Halal | Yes – all UAE branches are fully halal |
| Average spend | AED 20-40 per person |
FAQs About Al Baik Dubai
Dubai Mall (Level 2 Food Court), Mall of the Emirates (First Floor), Satwa (2nd December Street), Al Nahda (Union Coop Hypermarket), Al Rashidiya (drive-thru at Eppco station), Dubai Festival City Mall and more. Check @albaikinuae for the complete and current list.
The 4-piece chicken meal with extra garlic sauce is the standard recommendation for first-timers. Add the shrimp meal if you’re sharing. Do not skip the extra garlic sauce.
Almost identical – minor variations in side dishes, desserts and beverages exist to match local preferences, but the core chicken recipe, spice blend and garlic sauce are the same formula used since 1974.
Over 20 confirmed branches as of 2025, spanning all seven emirates. The brand continues to expand rapidly – check the Al Baik UAE app or @albaikinuae for the current full list.
Yes – all UAE branches serve 100% halal chicken, in line with UAE food standards.
Yes – available via Talabat and Noon Food from most branches.
Exploring Dubai’s food scene beyond the queues? Read our guide to hidden restaurants in Dubai for the spots locals know about, or browse the best buffets in Dubai for a very different kind of meal.
